Three rounds have been already played at the European Individual Chess Championship 2026 and the games are becoming tougher and tenser with each round!
Seventeen players currently hold a perfect score of 3/3 to share the early lead. Among the frontrunners are GM Aydin Suleymanli (AZE, 2653), GM Shant Sargsyan (ARM, 2647), GM Jonas Buhl Bjerre (AUT, 2623), GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM, 2621), and the 2024 European Champion GM Aleksandar Indjic (SRB, 2616). They are joined by GM Lorenzo Lodici (ITA, 2601), 2024 Candidates competitor GM Nijat Abasov (AZE, 2586), GM Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli (ESP, 2575), GM Isik Can (TUR, 2563), GM Luca Moroni (ITA, 2551), GM Jan Malek (POL, 2533), GM Dimitris Alexakis (GRE, 2528), GM Denis Kadric (MNE, 2523), GM Sabino Brunello (ITA, 2516), IM Samir Sahidi (SVK, 2513), IM Roman Dehtiarov (UKR, 2452), and CM Noam Sason (ISR, 2199), who remains the standout surprise of the group.
In the meantime, as many as 63 players score 2.5/3 points to be in the close race for the top, including some of the top 10 seeds: GM David Anton Guijarro (ESP, 2656), GM Ediz Gurel (TUR, 2635), and GM Haik Martirosyan (ARM, 2633).
Today’s round was opened by ECU Vice President Mr. Gunnar Bjornsson and the President of the Silesian Chess Association Mr. Michal Pazdziora, who performed the ceremonial first move on the top board.
All rankings, pairings and results from the tournament can be followed here.
Live video broadcast with commentaries by GM Alojzije Jankovic, WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili and WIM Anna-Maja Kazarian can be followed through the ECU YouTube channel.
Detailed information about the event can be found on the Official website.
Photos by Rafal Oleksiewicz and ECU